I follow Brenda Henning (Mariner's Compass) advice and just use regular copy paper. But I set my stitch length at 1.5. I haven't had any problems, even with the miniature that I did for the Sept. DQ swap. I think it's the stitch length that makes the difference. Also, using Brenda's method, you don't cross intersections more than once, you stop and start directly on a line. That prevents those *#*%@ Y-seams that are a witch to get out.